How do I make Outlook 2007 leave a copy of my messages on the server?

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With Microsoft Outlook 2007, it's possible to leave a copy of each message on the mail server after you read it.

You'll want to do this if you read email in Outlook and another program (or our Webmail system). If you don't do this, Outlook will delete the message copy from our servers as soon as it connects, and the other program (or Webmail) won't be able to see the messages later.

You can also do this if you want your old incoming mail to be permanently stored in our backup system (see "E-mail backups" on our backup policy page for more details).

This page explains how to set up Outlook to leave a copy of each message on the server. It assumes that you have already followed the basic instructions to set up Outlook 2007.

Before you continue, you should enter your email address (the address you want to set up in Microsoft Outlook) in the box above. Entering your email address makes sure that the instructions below are correct.

Changing the Outlook settings

To leave messages on the server, you will:

Open the Advanced settings window for your mail account

Check the "Leave a copy of messages on the server" checkbox

1. Start the Microsoft Outlook program.

You can use the Start menu to start Outlook. When it opens, click Tools, then Accounts Settings from the menu bar:

2. Select the account to change.

Highlight the account you want to change, then click Change to open the settings window.

3. The "Change E-mail Account" window opens.

The screen should look something like this:

4. Open the Advanced settings screen.

Click the "More Settings" button, then choose the "Advanced" tab.

In the "Advanced" tab, check the Leave a copy of messages on the server checkbox.

To make sure copies of every message don't stay on the server forever (which can slow down your mail connections and use up your disk space allowance), we also recommend checking the box marked Remove from server after X days. Choose a number of days that's long enough that you'll be able to read the messages in your other mail program (or Webmail). Even using a large number such as 100 days is better than not checking this box.

5. Close the settings windows.

Click OK to close the "Internet E-mail Settings" window.

The "Change E-mail Account" screen will then be visible. Click Next, then Finish.

Outlook setup is complete

You're finished! From now on, any mail that arrives should stay on the server, and you should be able to see it in your other mail program or Webmail. (If you're using another mail program, you'll probably want to setup that program to leave a copy of your messages on the server, too.)